NOTABLE COURT CASES

Pentagon Papers Case (New York Times Co v. U.S.), 405 U.S. 438 (1971)Landmark First Amendment case that won right of New York Times and Washington Post to publish classified Pentagon study revealing secret history of Vietnam War. Served as Co-Counsel before Supreme Court with James Goodall (New York Times), Alexander Bickel (Yale Law School), and Floyd Abrams (Cahill, Gordon, et al.).

Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972)Supreme Court ruling struck down State anti-birth control law. Decision was cited in Roe v. Wade as source for limitation on government regulation of reproductive freedom. Initiated, filed and litigated case on behalf of Massachusetts Planned Parenthood.

In re Pappas, 408 U.S. 665 (1972)Ruling recognized statutory right of journalists to protect identity of confidential news sources against compelled government disclosure. Filed and argued initial Massachusetts court case. Following consolidation and certiorari by Supreme Court, served as Associate Counsel, preparing petitioner's brief as well as amicus briefs for companion cases of Branzburg v. Hayes and U.S. v. Caldwell.

Jewish Defense League v. New York Times CoChief Counsel for New York Times. Successfully defended First Amendment right to not publish paid advertisement condemning orchestra conductor Leonard Bernstein.

In re Slaughterhouse FiveDrafted and filed District Court complaint overturning decision by school district in Drake, North Dakota after it banned—and burned—the Kurt Vonnegut novel Slaughterhouse Five and fired the teacher who had assigned it.

In re Last Tango in ParisSuccessfully defended United Artists' film Last Tango in Paris against obscenity charges by the State of Idaho.

Wounded Knee TrialsEight-month trial following American Indian Movement's 1973 occupation of Wounded Knee. Case dismissed due to pattern of government misconduct. Served as amicus curiae in capacity as Counsel to the Native American Rights Committee of the ACLU.

Associated Student Body v. University of WyomingDefended First Amendment right of University of Wyoming Student Body to select motion pictures for student events free from administration censorship.

In re Dr. Rufus LymanRepresented Chairman of University of Idaho Life Sciences Department in federal Civil Rights Act suit, securing reinstatement following dismissal for publicly condemning committee set up to investigate public opponents of University's President.

In re StarrDefended University of Colorado students against federal criminal charges under H. Rap Brown Act—Interstate Travel to Aid and Abet Those Engaged in Civil Disturbance—for attending public funeral of American Indian Movement member killed at Wounded Knee.

Watergate Burglary Case, (United States v. James McCord, et al.)Served with F. Lee Bailey as Special Counsel in Watergate Burglary Case, which led defendant James McCord to pen famous letter to Federal Judge John Sirica that "blew the whistle" on President Richard Nixon and "Plumbers Unit."

United States v. BerriganServed as Defense Counsel for brothers Phillip and Daniel Berrigan. The Berrigan brothers were Catholic Priests and peace activists accused of burning selective service records in protest of the Vietnam War.

LEGAL COUNSEL

Served, under William vanden Heuvel, as Special Counsel to Rockefeller Commission in oversight of Knapp Commission's investigation and public hearings into New York City Police Department corruption (which featured testimony of Officer Frank Serpico).

Served as Legal Counsel to Attica inmates in Western District of New York, helping secure placement of a Committee of Observers inside prison. As one of the observers, helped establish that hostages were killed by State Police gunfire and not, as officials claims, by the inmates.

Appointed by New York City Republican Mayor John Lindsey as pro bono attorney for inmates at the Manhattan House of Detention (aka "The Tombs").

Served as Defense Counsel for notable peace and political activists, including: Dick Gregory, Dr. Benjamin Spock, and Southern Christian Leadership Council President David Abernathy.

Selected to serve as one of five briefers to United States Senate on the Cooper-Church Amendment to terminate funding for the War in Vietnam.

Acted as Special Consultant to United States Library of Congress investigation into existence of Extraterrestrial Intelligence requested by President Jimmy Carter.

Served as Legal Counsel to Dr. John Mack, Chair of Department of Clinical Psychology at Harvard Medical School, before Harvard Faculty Committee. Dr. Mack was called to defend publication of his controversial book Abduction: Human Encounters with Aliens.

Served as General Counsel to the Disclosure Project, which coordinated presentation to members of United States Congress of sworn testimony from former U.S. Military Officers and Federal Aviation Administration and NASA employees attesting to direct personal knowledge of Government concealment of information relating to UFO phenomenon and potential existence of extraterrestrial intelligence.

Served as General Counsel to the Institute for Cooperation in Space, a U.S. citizens group dedicated to banning space-based weapons and any development of weapons for offensive use against potential extraterrestrial civilizations.

U.S. in the Middle East

Following Danny's interview on Coast to Coast AM, we are putting together a series of info-graphics and videos to dig further into the United States' role in past and current crises in the Middle East. Click here to learn more!